Putin's Q&A, as it happened: All the best quotes and realtime reaction

Stalin was no different than Cromwell, a riot police officer beating a girl seems unimaginable, and Pussy Riot degraded the dignity of women. Putin’s marathon Q&A session was heavy on economics and politics, but not without its moments of controversy.

12:13 GMT: Putin wishes the attendees a Happy
New Year and concludes the Q&A session.

12:10 GMT: Concerning de-offshorization, Putin
says that money should be spent where the money is made. He says
you cannot earn your money in Russia and store it in other
jurisdictions. He says a road map has been rolled out to improve
the business climate in Russia. There is also work to close the
many tax loopholes that currently exist. Russia plans to share
information with other states in order to battle tax evasion.

12:07 GMT: Putin says that state-owned media
companies should be run by patriots who protect Russia's national
interests. Independent media should also be allowed to exist so
that there can be a plurality of opinions and people can compare
different perspectives.

12:00 GMT:"We should copy the best
practices of foreign countries, but not copy them
indiscriminately."

11:58 GMT: Putin also says his statement that
the collapse of the Soviet Union was the worst geopolitical
catastrophe of the 20th century had been misconstrued to depict
him as having hegemonic intentions, which is not the case.

11:57 GMT:"If anyone wants to return to
Russia, it should be ethnic Russians from former Soviet
republics."

“What exactly differentiates [Oliver] Cromwell from Stalin? Who
can tell me? No one! From the point of view of the liberal
spectrum of our political establishment, he’s a dictator just as
bloody; a man who was really treacherous. [Cromwell] played a
very controversial role in British history. But his monument
stands – no one is tearing it down.”

11:56 GMT: Putin is asked what Soviet leader he
would like to reconstruct as a monument in Moscow. He says that
which monuments to Soviet leaders are reconstructed in Moscow is
a decision which will be left to municipal authorities. Putin
argues, however, that there is no difference between Oliver
Cromwell and Joseph Stalin regarding their bloody mark on
history.

11:45 GMT: Putin is asked about how thousands of
Russian passports were handed out to the citizens of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia in the lead up to the 2008 war, and if Russia would
take similar steps if a similar situation erupted in the Crimea.

Putin says there are no parallels between what happened in
Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Crimea. Putin says the 2008 war
was intended to protect Russian peacekeepers from being
massacred, and no similar situation exists in Crimea. He says
that the presence of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol is a
stabilizing force in the region, and hopes it presence will
continue.

11:36 GMT: Putin is asked about the possibility
of a third criminal case being brought against former Yukos CEO
Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Putin says that he doesn’t want to comment
because he has nothing to do with it. He says that he is merely
an external observer, but does not see any feasibility of a third
case going forward. Putin says people who have gone abroad have
not done so out of fear for prosecutors, but rather to “stay
with their families.”

11:32 GMT: Authorities are attempting to even
out the government budget to deal with the massive imbalances
that exist between different regions. Putin says that regional
governments have more instruments to impact the development of
their own regions, but legislation might soon be passed that
would compensate regions who use their own funds to invest in
regional projects.

11:20 GMT: Iran is a priority partner in the
region and Russian will develop cooperation with Iran on all
tracks, the Russian president said. Putin says that not only
Russia, but the US helped hammer out a nuclear deal with Iran
that will see sanctions on the country loosened. Putin says that
the security of all countries in the Middle East, including
Israel, needs to be secured. He also said that the sanctions
route was counterproductive towards finding a long-term solution
regarding the Iranian nuclear issue. Putin says it is Russia's
position that Iran has a right to nuclear energy like all states.

11:18 GMT: Asked by a journalist from the
Chinese broadcaster CCTV about the trajectory of Russia-Chinese
relations, Putin notes it is no coincidence that he spent his
birthday with Xi Jinping, saying bilateral cooperation will
continue to expand in a variety of spheres.

“I can’t believe that OMON [Russia’s special purpose police unit]
would hit a girl. I simply can’t imagine it. I know OMON, I’ve
met with them more than once, even when they were on duty. These
are people who regularly face gunfire and risk their lives.
They’ve got their own families, children, wives, sisters and
mothers.”

11:15 GMT: Putin says he cannot imagine a
situation where a riot police officer would attack a woman, but
if a woman were, for example, to attempt to pluck his eye out,
the officer would have to defend himself.

Putin stresses that fair sentences and trails need to be
guaranteed in the country. He notes that it’s not just a problem
of Russia, but all countries suffer from a certain sloppiness
regarding law enforcement authorities from time to time. He notes
that the amnesty was put forward to turn the page and move on,
inclusively, with civil society.

11:06 GMT: One journalist talks about how her
intrepid colleague saw her home burned down as a result of her
professional work. The woman asks for Putin to protect her
colleague, who should have been provided a new home in her
village.

Putin says he can’t comment on the woman’s story, but he will
speak with her after the meeting to deal with her colleague. He
said he were to respond to every letter sent to him, he would
have time for nothing else, and still not finish that task. He
notes that today’s Q&A was an opportunity to speak with
everyday people about issues such as the one’s which have been
brought up during today's session.

11:00 GMT: A journalist from the Russian Far
East City of Khabarovsk tells Putin that people who want to stay
in the region are being deprived of the opportunity to earn an
honest living.

Putin reiterates previous calls that everything should be done to
boost the standard of living in the Far East. He notes that some
91 billion rubles are slated to be invested in the region. Putin
says that regarding the resource rich region, Russia should not
merely export raw materials abroad, but rather create value added
good like furniture.

10:50 GMT: A journalist from the Kazan-based
news portal Business Online asks Putin about the fatal air crash
in her city that killed 50. She asks how this accident will
affect Russia’s aviation industry.

Putin says that naturally new measures should be adopted to
protect the safety of passengers. Putin says the primary focus
should be on regulations, for example, how many hours of sleep
the pilots get and safety checks on Russian aircraft. Putin hopes
that the country’s Ministry of Transport will draw serious
conclusions from the tragedy.

“I’m not really saddened that [Pussy Riot] ended up in jail,
though there is nothing good in that. What saddens me is that
they took things to such a level, here, from my point of view,
that they degraded the dignity of women. They did this in order
to stand out, to get PR, but they crossed a line.”

10:45 GMT: Putin says he does not feel pity for
Pussy Riot because they are in prison, though he does pity them
for that, but because they started engaging in activities that
were degrading to women. He notes, however, that they were not
imprisoned for those acts. He continues that the amnesty was not
intended for Pussy Riot's benefit or the Greenpeae activists, but
rather it was intended as a component of Russia' modernization.

10:43 GMT: A journalist requests 20 million
rubles for the city of Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East to help
deal with nuclear waste. She then says that all of the natural
resources of Russia belong to the Russian people in accordance
with the constitution, and if they were nationalized, the country
could do away with the tycoons controlling those sections.

"If you do this, the whole country will thank you and ask you
to rule for the rest of your life." The hall (a hall of
JOURNALISTS), applauds

Putin answers that the Russia constitution will not be changed
and it’s necessary for the stability of society. Putin says that
if the issue in Vladivostok could merely be solved with 20
million rubles, he will gladly find the money.

Concerning the best way of balancing the distribution of natural
resources in the country, Putin counter’s her claim that Gazprom
is controlled by tycoons, saying it is a state corporation. Putin
says it is not the government’s job to seize assets from the
private sphere, and that the Russian governments controlling
stake can control the distribution of those resources. He also
notes that allowing Russian state firms to be partially sold will
increase investment and their market capitalization.

Putin says Russia does not need to nationalize state comments,
but rather enforce the existing legal structures. Putin says that
Russian economic problems can be solved within the capitalistic
model.

"After meeting you my private life has improved -I've got
married" young girl from a tabloid to #putin

10:24 GMT: Putin notes how changes in the media
landscape have made it difficult for print journalism to
flourish. He also notes how its understandable that those working
in print media would be unhappy with government cuts in subsidies
to the industry, but such cuts reflect changes in consumer
habits. Putin says he could reexamine those changes.

10:16 GMT: Putin says that it is only natural
that entrepreneurs will be dissatisfied with something, they want
what they want now and all people in general have a tendency
towards criticism.

“If [Aleksey Navalny] posed a threat, he would not have been
allowed to participate in the [Moscow mayoral] election.”

10:14 GMT: Putin jokes that if Alexei Navalny
were a threat, he would not have been allowed to take part in the
mayoral elections. He then says that if Navalny had violated some
electoral laws, he could have been barred from taking part in
elections, but such questions are for experts to decide.

“After our meeting, my personal life improved, I got married
... not with you, but with my husband. I love you platonically,
Vladimir Vladimirovich," a [platonically] love-struck
journalist, bearing a stuffed Yeti, told the president.

10:10 GMT: A journalist brandishing a stuffed
Yeti from the southwestern Siberian region of Kuzbass asks Putin
about problems with the regions struggling coal industry. Putin
says he wants to improve the traffic flows throughout all of
Siberia, and will invest funds from the national welfare fund to
do so. Putin recognizes that the lack of infrastructure limits
economic growth in the region. Putin says the Transportation
Industry and Russian Railways will be integral in upgrading
infrastructure.

10:05 GMT: One journalist invites Putin to the
300th anniversary of the Siberian city of Omsk set for 3-years’
time and asks if the city will get its metro system as promised.

Putin notes that western Siberia is far more developed than
eastern Siberia due to its closeness to the European part of
Russia and lower transportation costs. He once again says that
the government has special plans to develop Russia’s Far East.

10:00 GMT: Nationalist sentiment in Ukraine is
part of the reason many younger people have negative attitudes
towards Russia, Putin says. He notes that Russia has its own
nationalist elements, but the majority of Russians are positively
disposed towards Ukraine. Likewise, he says that among Ukraine's
45 million citizens, you will of course find elements that are
anti-Russian, but their sentiments are likely caused by a lack of
awareness.

#Putin
losing temper a bit for first time today when asked again about
#Ukraine.
Says EU trade offer a bad deal, they'd lose Russian market

He repeats previous statements that while Russia will not
discriminate against Ukrainian goods, Russia will have to remove
trade preferences with Ukraine so as not to undermine Russia's
economy. He reiterates his previous statement that Ukraine would
devolve into an agricultural appendage of Europe. He understands
that Ukrainian youths want to adopt certain EU standards, but
they would also likely want to see their industrial production
maintain their current markets in Russia.

He also notes that many of the Ukrainian political leaders
involved in the euromaidan protests in Kiev are opposition
leaders who had the opportunity to sign an association agreement
with the EU when they were in government, but didn't. He
concludes that ultimately, this is less about the EU, and more
about internal Ukrainian politics.

09:52 GMT: Putin says that if illegal protests
were to take place on Red Square as they are currently taking
place on Independence Square in Kiev, Putin would deal with it
within the framework of the law so as to avoid chaos which could
affect the economy and social sphere.

09:50 GMT: Russia is hosting the G8 summit next
year, and will be tasked with setting the agenda for the body of
global powers.

09:39 GMT: Joining the WTO is not about
garnering short term benefits, but will rather protect specific
Russian markets, for example, in the metal and petrochemical
spheres. Putin says that Europe is still restricting Russian
chemicals and fertilizers despite Russia's WTO ascension. He also
says that energy resource prices are being artificially
manipulated, which, for example, have affected Russia's export of
fertilizer. Joining the world trade body will give Russia more
rights and opportunities to influence such situations on the
internaitonal market, and will help Russia build trust with other
nations which the country trades with.

09:38 GMT: Putin is asked what political steps
Russia will take to normalize relations with Georgia following
the 2008 war, and if Russia’s position has changed following
Saakashvili’s lose in the October 27 presidential race.

Putin says his feelings towards the Georgian nation have always
been warm, noting deep spiritual and cultural ties. Putin says
that there are problems, and it is not Russia who started the
2008 conflict, which everyone has recognized. Putin believes that
a visa free regime between Russia and Georgia could be worked
out, which would create conditions for a full-fledged
normalization of bilateral relations.

09:33 GMT: Putin says he can’t control
everything and the government has to be set up in such a way that
many processes happen automatically. Putin says that the
executive and the parliament need to be on the same page,
especially in regards to such issues as the recently passed
amnesty.

09:30 GMT: Putin says Cossack patrols are part
of the Russian identity and are not archaic. Putin said in Soviet
times there were milita units who were patrolling the streets and
it is normal. He says that at times the Cossacks work much more
efficiently than the police because they represent the majority
of the people who live in their regions. He notes, however, that
abuses can happen and the Cossack patrols must work within the
framework of the law.

#Putin
says cossacks are often more effective than police. Wonder what
he would say about all the cossacks on #euromaidan

09:25 GMT: Putin says the recently passed
amnesty was not specifically passed for the benefit of Arctic 30.

09:23 GMT: In regards to the Arctic 30 - the
30-strong crew of a Greenpeace ship detained in Russia - Putin
says he respects anyone who protects the environment, but does
not support those who use environmental activism to promote
themselves or make money. Putin believes that there could be
attempts by others to stop Russia from developing its offshore
energy capabilities under the guise of environmental activism.

#Putin
talking about #greenpeace
says he doesn't like it when people do things for PR. To
massive hall full of journalists

09:20 GMT: Putin says that it is up to the
courts to decide what kinds of violations were committed and who
committed them. If people organized mass unrest which resulted in
security forces being attacked, it would be dangerous for society
to let this stand without punishment. Otherwise, people will be
left to protect themselves, as there would be no one else to
protect them. Putin says that in this light, the amnesty bill
recently passed will not apply to those who committed violence
against security forces or had been convicted of violent crimes.

Putin has a George W. Bush moment: Tells joke about
dark-skinned Americans exiting Moscow-Kaliningrad train, but
forgets the punch-line

09:17 GMT: Putin is asked why the recent amnesty
bill will only apply to some of the 27 people arrested during the
May 6 , 2012 protest on Bolotnaya Square. which turned violent.

“I envy him. He can do it, and get away with it,” Putin said,
regarding how he felt about President Barack Obama following the
revelations of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

09:15 GMT: Putin says that following the Snowden
revelations, he "envies" President Obama because "he
can get away with it." Putin says there is nothing to get
upset about, as spying is one of the world's oldest professions.
Putin says its would be difficult to read all of the documents
presented by the Security Services regarding intelligence
gathered. Putin says he knows, as he himself wrote these
documents. Putin says that no matter how "our American
friends are criticized,"all this work is being done to
counter terrorism."

Putin says that you don't just spy on the terror suspect, but you
have to follow his whole network, and this cannot be done without
watching him and his contacts 24/7. Putin says that there should
be moral and ethical agreements regarding this surveillance, but
he reiterates that in the end, this is about countering
terrorism.

09:07 GMT: Putin says that mayors should be
elected, but those who lead municipal governments should be known
to the people.

09:06 GMT: Putin says that as the host of the
2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, equal conditions should be created
for all athletes no matter what country they represent. This is
Russia's number one priority for the Games. He says that Russia
expects victory for its athletes, but will not give any forecast
on the number of medals that will be won. Rather, he says that
they will have an opportunity to show their courage and skills,
as one can never predict how even the best athletes will perform.

09:03 GMT: Putin is asked if he has met NSA
Whistle blower Snowden, to which he replies no. Putin says "he is
quite an interesting personalty" and thanks to Mr. Snowden,
"the mentality in the world has changed for millions of
people."

“I haven’t met [Snowden]. He’s got his affairs, I’ve got mine.”

Putin says he's a curious person, but the Russian president has
his own interests and Snowden has his. Putin reiterates one of
Snowden's conditions for temporary asylum, namely that Snowden
not engage in activities that cause harm to the United States.
Putin says Snowden has lived up to this condition during his stay
in Russia.

Putin is in his classic. "I am going to patiently explain
everything with crayons for you" mode.

09:00 GMT: CNN notes Putin’s stress on moral
values, and asks him why he wants to criticize western values.

Putin responds that he does not want to criticize western values,
but protect Russia from “pseudo-values” that are aggressively
being imposed on Russia by some social groups.

He notes that in Soviet times, morality was like “a simple
copy of the bible.” He says that today the code of the
communist workers does not exist, and the young generation has
not heard about them. He says that in this moral vacuum, Russia
needs to return to traditional norms in order to move forward. He
notes that it’s a conservative approach, but this conservative
approach helps us “not to degrade, not to lapse.”

He notes that Russia is a country that is a rich culture which
needs to build on its traditions to move forward.

08:55 GMT: Putin says the global economy has
different ways of being kick started. He mentions the United
States method of quantitative easing - injecting cheap money into
the economy – the get the economy going. He says cutting down
social spending and improving macroeconomic indicators is another
method. He notes that at the recent G20 summit in Saint
Petersburg, they found a path which makes everyone happy.

Putin thinks it is better to take out excessive money from the
economy and put it into the country’s reserves. He stresses that
Russia should be cautious in cutting down social expenditures,
and can even boost retirement payments with money taken from oil
revenues. Europe, on the other hand, has had to drastically cut
down on social spending, a problem that is not occurring in
Russia, as Russia has consolidated its budget, thus forming a
“cushion” for Russia to fall back on in difficult times.

Putin says that it is not just their fraternal relationship, but
the interwoven nature of their economies which keeps Russian and
Ukrainian ties close.

08:48 GMT: Komsomolskaya Pravda asks Putin who
is the “number 2” politician in Russia, as Putin is obviously
number one.

Putin says there are lots of veteran politicians in Russia. He
starts off by mentioning Gennady Zyuganov, the leader of the
Communist Party of the Russian Federation who has millions of
supporters throughout the country. He also mentions leader of the
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Just
Cause party leader Sergey Mironov and Russian Prime Minister
Dmitry Medvedev.

He says that people attack the leader in order to boost their own
popularity, but might “shoot themselves in the foot” in
the process. He concludes by saying he can’t answer who will be
his successor.

#putin
looks good and fit -- we are doomed to stay here for very long
time

08:42 GMT: Putin says that developing Russia's
energy infrastructure in the country's Far East is on the agenda.
He says that there are plans to build hydroelectric plants, but
curbing consumption will also be necessary.

08:40 GMT: Channel One asks Putin why Russia is
being accused of “flexing its muscles” for putting Iskander
missiles in Kaliningrad when it’s Russian territory and Europe
has some 200 ballistic missiles on its territory.

Putin notes that missile defense remains a threat to Russian
national security and Russia has the right to place Iskander
missiles in Kalingrad. he notes, however, that this step has not
yet been taken. Putin says that putting Iskander missiles in
Kaliningrad is a logical response to American plans to build a
missile defense system in Europe, but is not the only option at
Russia’s disposal.

08:38 GMT: Putin says the Russian government has
by and large been quite efficient this year. Despite being “hit
by the wave of crisis,” the government has worked efficiently. He
says that the government must have the most professional staff,
and therefore the government needs to provide them with
attractive salaries.

He says the drive for anti-corruption measures is going strong.
Putin opts not to enumerate all of the measures taken, though he
mentions efforts to reign in assets officials are keeping abroad.
He also says that the President and Prime Minister are did not
get any sort of pay raise because they are already “paid
enough.”

“It’s been great working with you today: you all keep answering
your own questions.”

08:31 GMT: Putin says that eliminating
unreliable players in the financial service is a means of
safeguarding the economy.

08:30 GMT: Interfax press service asks why there
has been a “purge” of Russian banks whose licenses were recalled.

It's like a stadium in here, journalists are holding signs,
pick me pick me. One sign says in giant letters, "Very
important question"

08:29 GMT: Russia can either extend the natural
gas discount, or reach some type of “long-term arrangement.”

08:28 GMT: Ukraine does not need $15 billion,
they need hundreds of billions to make systemic reforms. Russia’s
decision to buy $15 billion in Ukrainian securities will merely
help the government keep running and fund social welfare
payments, but Ukraine will need much larger sums to really
progress.

08:25 GMT: Putin reiterates that Europe will not
buy the industrial products (citing helicopters as an example)
that are currently being purchased by Russia. He says that if
Ukraine abandons Russia entirely for the EU, it will become
entirely an “agricultural appendage.”

08:23 GMT: Putin also says that the Russian
energy Giant Gazprom has twice agreed to sign documents allowing
for Ukraine to postpone payments for gas in returning to his
previous point that Russia is not trying to use gas as a means of
pressuring Ukraine.

08:22 GMT: Putin says the bulk of Ukrainian
exports to European are agricultural products, while Russia
primarily purchases industrial products. Putin says Russia has
nothing against Ukraine looking towards Europe, but Russia has to
protect its own interests. If Ukraine opens it borders to Europe,
the percentage of Ukrainian agricultural products to European
markets will not grow as a result of quality controls and other
restrictions in the EU.

“No one is suppressing anyone. If you want to be independent, you
have to pay your own way and conduct yourself as an independent
state,” Putin replied when asked if Russia is using gas as a
political tool to suppress Ukraine.

08:18 GMT: Putin says that Ukraine is a
fraternal country in a tough economic and political situation
which was caused by a number of reasons. He says if Ukraine is
really a fraternal country, it is Russia’s responsibility to
help. He also said it was the government of former Prime Minister
Yulia Tymoshenko who signed the gas contract with Russia, so
“no one is trying to suppress Ukraine.”

08:15 GMT: Putin is asked if he expects any
payback for the decision to help Ukraine financially. Another
journalist also says Putin has been “suppressing”
Ukraine with natural gas prices, and then decided to cut the
price. He is asked how much more Russia is willing to pay Ukraine
to keep the country from “looking away from Europe.”

08:12 GMT: Housing, agricultural output,
disposable income and real wages adjusted for inflation are all
up year-on-year, he says.

R

08:10 GMT: Putin says it’s been a tough year and
we’ve worked hard. He starts off the media conference by
mentioning that GDP growth is up 1.4 percent but is likely to be
up by 1.5 percent by the end of the year.

08:09 GMT: President Putin has taken his seat
and the press conference starts.

08:04 GMT: During last year’s Q&A, Putin
answered dozens of questions ranging from serious to
light-hearted. The Russian President explained controversial
laws, rejected an assessment of his building an authoritarian
regime for personal power, as well as predicting that the world
would not end on December 21, 2012.

08:02 GMT: The conference is taking place in
World Trade Center (WTC) Moscow. According to a document
available on Kremlin administration’s website, 1327 journalists
have been accredited to cover the Putin presser.

Russian and international media are on the list, including
Reuters, AP, CNN, The New York Times, BBC, The Guardian, AFP,
Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Xinhua, and Russia Today.

08:01 GMT: This is Putin’s ninth big media
conference over his two presidential terms. During the last
Q&A session Putin answered 81 questions in 4 hours and 33
minutes. The record-long 2008 session saw the President answering
106 questions from 80 journalists.